A Message From the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation

As 2021 unfolds, reflection gives way to transformation. The events of 2020 served to hold a looking glass to how we live, how we work and how we learn. At the Friday Institute, we have renewed our commitment to educational innovation, not only as a way to secure a successful future for our students, staff and faculty but also to secure our institution’s legacy as an agency of change.

The Friday Institute is dedicated to promoting anti-racism and equity mindedness, not only in education as a whole but in every aspect of our work. We continue to support our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) colleagues, educators, students and community partners. We recognize that our organization’s level of excellence is only achieved because of our diversity. We strive to cultivate a safe community culture where everyone can achieve their potential, especially those who have been systematically marginalized by our education system.

In the summer of 2020, the Friday Institute held the first of several internal forums on equity and racial injustice. These talks provided a safe platform for open and honest communication. They not only served to soothe much of the pain and grief we were all feeling, but it was also an opportunity to give those who had been silent, those who had been silenced, a voice.

As a result of these conversations, we formed the Committee on Equity through Equity-Mindedness. We are taking a long, hard look at how we work, play and live together at the Friday Institute, as well as how we can impact the world beyond our doors through current and future work. Our path forward includes the completion of an internal equity audit, inspiring our employees to become more equity-minded through continuing education, and implementing a set of equity metrics to hold ourselves accountable for advancing equity in education.

We are here to listen, to learn and to grow. We are here to know, do and be…better.